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Supporters and organizers of Initiative 9, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act (OCTA), submitted 165,000 signatures to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office this morning, and more signatures are expected to be turned in later today, the deadline for initiatives to qualify for Oregon’s November ballot. Continue reading
Juan Carlos Valle, candidate seeking to unseat Betty Taylor on the Eugene City Council in a November run-off, announced at noon today his support for the West Eugene EmX bus rapid transit system extension. The announcement follows a request from EW June 29 asking both candidates to outline their reasons for supporting or not supporting the EmX extension. Councilor Taylor, who represents Ward 2, has yet to announce how she intends to vote when the issue comes before this council this fall or winter, but she is rumored to be leaning toward a “yes” vote. Continue reading
The Institute for Public Accuracy, which is in part based in Eugene with David Zupan, sent out quotes from climate change experts today under the heading, "Media Miss the Forest for the Burning Trees." Neil deMause is a Brooklyn-based journalist who has written extensively about climate change coverage, including the article "The Fires This Time: In coverage of extreme weather, media downplay climate change." See http://wkly.ws/1bg Continue reading
We heard unconfirmed rumors that The Register-Guard's highly paid chief operating officer David Pero got himself fired Friday after more than five years. Maybe leaving was his idea, but that's not what we heard. Nothing in the paper or online, unless we missed it. We checked his LinkedIn profile and sure enough, it lists the R-G as his employer from February 2007 to June 2012. Pero was overseeing editorial, advertising, circulation, marketing, production and technology, including the website. Continue reading
The Corvallis City Council took a stand against ocean pollution this week, becoming the second city in Oregon to approve a comprehensive ban on plastic bags. A second reading and final vote are still required to secure the ordinance, but all city councilors are on record in support of the bill, which they voted 8-1 to enact at Monday’s meeting. Continue reading
From the San Francisco Bay Guardian editorial page: Continue reading
The Emerald City Roller Girls are hosting their final bout of the 2012 season at 6 pm Saturday, June 9, at the Lane Events Center. This year’s season championship is a rematch from last year pitting the three-time defending champion Andromedolls (3-1) against the Church of Sk8in (2-2). This bout to determine the winner of the Big Emerald trophy is preceded by a match between the Snake Pit Derby Dames of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Emerald City’s third-place finisher Flat Track Furies. Proceeds from the bout will go to help maintain the Cascade Raptor Center. Continue reading
Who ends up looking better here, the irritating guy with the gun or the EPD? Continue reading
Tomorrow, May 17, the Oregon Aviation Board will be looking to adopt new rules that will allow noisy float planes to land and take off on Waldo Lake, despite the ban on gas motors and the lake's 10 MPH speed limit. Oregon Wild is posting an online petition with talking points at www.oregonwild.org You can also email comments today to aviation.ma8il@state.or.us and find a list of board members and their phone numbers at http://wkly.ws/185 Continue reading
Naming a Portland beer after a Hindu goddess was apparently not appreciated by some Hindu members in India’s Parliament this week who summoned the U.S. ambassador after hearing about the special brew. “Kali-Ma” beer was scheduled to be launched today (May 15) by Portland-based Burnside Brewing Company, but was then canceled after the Hindu protest. The company has apologized and will rename the beer and change its label. The brew is imperial wheat ale flavored with Indian spices and Scotch-Bonnet peppers. Continue reading